Shelf extension



July .24, 1923. 11,462,671)

- W. N. VANCE SHELF EXTENS I ON Filed Se g 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July} 24, 1923.

W. N. VANCE SHELF EXTENSION Filed Sept. 22, 1919 2 .SheetsQShet 2 Patented July 24, 1923. v 7 ll 'MTED stares en rant OFWQEL.

WALTER N. VANCE, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIR TO DURAND STEEL LOCKER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SHELF EXTENSION.

Application filed September 22, 1919. Serial No. 325,286.

Referring to the drawing, internal width of the opening of the tube TocZZ whom it may concern: a Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a C011.-

Be it known that I, WALTER N. VANCE, a nector;

citizen of the United States, residing in (Thi- Fig, 5 is a section taken substantially on cago Heights, in the county of Cook and the line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

5 State of Illinois. have invented anew and Fi 6 i id l ti th f; d

useful Improvement in Shelf Extensions, of Fi 7 i a h i f a bl k d i which the following is a specification: ki id cnnector This invention relates in eneral to-shelf For the purpose of illustrating my and rack construction and t e like and has ventioh I Shown on the d i a 10 more particular reference to constructions i l h lf assemblage Comprising i ht Of this Character P f "armble 11 of tubular form and rectangular in cross- 'semblage. section. These uprights are provided with The inWHt-lOn has a. P17111011)2L1 oblect slots 12 in which are secured front and back the Provision of means W Y and bearers or cross-supports 13 and front-toeasily permittingllpVlI'Cl eNtBIlSlOn of Such back bearers or c1'O Su1 p 1tS 14 These assemblages beyond e he g PP front and back or lengthwise bearers 13 and rights provided and th1s without requiring f pt ib k or i e. bearers 14 ith the use of'devices which would 1n any fashth i ht tit t a frame f th ion mar the appearance of the extended as h l hi h are i di t d t 1 20 sembly or protrude out to interfere with I t th Open d f th t f th y insertion of articles intoithe Tacks rights are inserted extension connectors 17, Shelves other arrangementshown more in detail in Figs. 4 to 7. Con- The invention contemplates the provision id i Fi 7 Which showsh k fr O 'i l Connectors for p g extension. which each connector is made, the dotted 25 \Vhlch without requiring auxiliary fZLStellline identified by reference haracter ining: devices o SG H t0 elthel 0f the dicates a central transverse line of bend, the connected par s, wi l irm y and securely material of the blank being notched at each hold the connected parts together. In this id t 19 t id t h d ti GOIlIlGCblOIl the ll'lVGIllllOll llZhS the further as indicated Refereni g haracter 3O important purpose Of pIOTVldlIlgLODIlGClIOlS indicates two lines of fold, the material at having such secure holding qualities whlch 23 at each side being bent up to form lateral will be easily ins l into up g flanges. These flanges are bent up from the ready erected in the ssem g and Which plane of the blank and the blank is then may be easily removed. bent in the opposite direction and back upon 35 Another llllPOItElIll) object Of the lIDGII- itself on the line of bend 18 bringing the tion .is the provision of. connecto s Of this construction to the form shown in F-igs. 4, character which may be ch aply nd a ily 5 and 6. This provides two halves or parts manufactured. 24 of the body of the blank arranged in Numerous other objects and advantages back-to-back relation with the flanges 23' ex- 40 of the invention will be apparent as it is be tending out at each side. The lower corners ter understood from the following descripof these flanges at 25 are bent in from the tion when considered in connection with the planes of the bodies of the flanges. The diaccompanying drawing illustrating a preinensions of the parts are such that the ferred embodiment thereof. width of the connector is substantially the Figure 1 is a perspective view of a porand the distance from edge to edge of op- 10 tion of shelfassemblage including connectors positely extending flanges is substantially constructed in accordance with my present the dimension across the tube in the oppoinvention; site direction. The bend at the center 50 Fig. 2 is a partial enlarged side elevation causes the two connector parts or halves to showing an upright and an extension therespring away from each other and when these of; parts are brought into contact for inser- Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on tion in the end of the tube the bent over the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; corners 25 of the flanges permit the connecs tors entering readily into the tubes and the yielding or expanding tendency of the connectors causes them to tightly engage'opposite internal walls thereof to hold the connectors against inadvertent vertical movement after being positioned. That is to say, this expansive action prevents the connectors from dropping down into the tubes or being inadvertently pulled out of them. The upright extensions indicated in full lines at 26 in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1 are easily positioned over the protruding ends of the connectors and additional assemblage may thus be erected upon the shelf, rack or other lower construction.

It will be noted that the connectors are located wholly within the tubes and that a mere line of contact between the connected parts constitutes the sole evidence of their connection. Since the connectors are constru'cted of sheet metal as described they may be cheaply provided and after once being positioned their expanding or yielding qualities prevent vibration or jarring from loosening them or reducing the effective character of the connection.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and ar rangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. The combination of shelf framing, including tubular uprights at the corners of rectangular section and having open tops, and sheet metal members folded to provide outstanding flanges insertable therein and into firm frictional contact with said uprights for receiving the lower ends of similar uprights to permit upward extension of said framework.

2. The. combination of shelf framing, including tubular uprights at the corners of rectangular section and having open tops, and extension connectors adapted to be positioned in said open tops of said tubular uprights, and comprising metal sheets bent at their longitudinal centers to provide legs seperable under the yielding influence of said bend, said connectors being held in place in the tops of said uprights by said yielding connection and being adapted for insertion into open ends of similar uprights to provide upward frame extension.

3. The combination of shelf framing, including tubular uprights at the corners of rectangular section and having open tops, and extension connectors adapted to be positioned in said open tops of said tubular uprights to permit upward shelfextension and each comprising a metal sheet flanged at its ends and bent at its center, the central bend serving to insure firm engagement of the connector halves with the walls of the tubular uprights andthe flanges serving to stiffen said connector parts.

4. The combination of shelf framing, including tubular uprights at the corners of rectangular section and having open tops, and extension connectors adapted to be positioned in said opentops of said tubular uprights to permit upward shelf extension, and each comprising a metal sheet folded back upon itself at the center and having flanges extending out from the lateral sides, said flanges fitting neatly within said tubular uprights with the upper portion including the bend protruding in position to receive a similar upright.

5. The combination of shelf framing, in-

cluding tubular uprights at the corners of rectangular section and having opentops, and extension connectors adapted to be positioned in said open tops of said tubular uprights to permit upward shelf extension, and each comprising a metal sheet folded back upon itself at the center and having flanges extending out from the lateral sides, said flanges fitting neatly within said tubular uprights, the lower ends of said flanges being bent to permit easy insertion of the connectors'into snug engagement with the uprights.

WALTER N. VANCE. 

